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Less than 48 hours later her nine-year-old daughter, Lilly, came down with the same symptoms.

With their holiday in tatters, the Rowleys obtained fit-to-fly certificates from the doctor, allowing them to fly back to the UK despite their deteriorating conditions.

When the Rowleys returned home they visited their local GP to find out what caused them to fall ill.

Oliver (pictured before he fell ill) was infected with Salmonella and bacteria which can cause gastroenteritis

Lilly (pictured early in the holiday) lost considerable weight over months of ill health, said her mother

Amanda, who owns health care companies with her husband, John, 45, said results from a stool sample confirmed that she had contracted giardia lambliasis, a microscopic parasite that causes an infection of the intestine.

Giardiasis is usually spread by drinking water that has been contaminated with faeces, although it can also be contracted through direct contact between people or when an infected person transfers the parasites on to surfaces, utensils or food, the NHS said.

Oliver’s tests suggested he was infected with Salmonella and aeromonas caviae bacteria, which can cause gastroenteritis.

Amanda said her son became noticeably more tired and rundown in the months following his illness and he required additional trips to the doctor for tests and treatment.

The family travelled to Sharm el-Sheikh for a fun-filled break, bit fell ill within days of their arrival (file photo)

She said Salmonella and giardiasis lambliasis were also detected in tests on Lilly, who lost a considerable amount of weight over months of ill health.

Both children were forced to take time off from school, she added. Amanda said: ‘It has taken us more than a year to recover but what is worse for me is I have been so put off package holidays now.

‘I really can’t see myself or our family doing another one.’

Looking back, she claimed the resort’s swimming pool contained debris and there were poor hygiene practices, as the buffet was exposed to flies and food was recycled from one mealtime to the next.

Amanda contacted lawyers at Your Holiday Claims to pursue a claim for compensation against Thomson and she received £15,380 in a recent settlement.

A spokesman for Thomson said the tour operator does not comment on settlements.

British tour operators and airlines, meanwhile, have suspended flights to Sharm el-Sheikh on the advice of the government after a Russian passenger jet was bombed over Egypt, killing all 224 holidaymakers and crew on board, last October.

Isis claimed responsibility for the disaster, which targeted a plane that had just left Sharm el-Sheikh's airport en route to St Petersburg.

British firms have extended their cancellations up to March or May as they await further advice from the government on the airport's security situation.

Thomson has said it will resume its flights to the Red Sea resort in late May if it is safe to do so.